Civilian Casualties

Civilian Casualties

Belligerent
Country
start date
end date
Civilian Harm Status
Belligerent Assessment
Declassified Documents
Infrastructure
text search
6001 Results
sort by:
Sort by:
Incident date
Civilian deaths alleged
Civilian deaths confirmed by belligerent

Incident Code

RS551

Incident date

February 5, 2016

Location

تلبيسة, Talbisah, Homs, Syria

Geolocation

34.840505, 36.72922 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Town level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Four civilians included one child died in raids on Talbiseh, according to local sources. While the majority alleged that Russia was responsible, one source – Smart – says the deaths occurred as the result of shelling by Assad regime artillery.

In a news roundup, Shaam News Network reported that “Russian warplanes have been carrying out nightly raids on Talbissa which has led to the fall of a number of martyrs and wounded among civilians.”

The Violations Documentation Center linked to a video published by Talbissa which showed a wrapped body. The voice in the footage repeats the title: “Talbissa 5/2/2016 the martyr Khattab Al Ghafri following Russian raids.”

Step News Agency reported: “Russian warplanes launched about 20 airstrikes targeting the neighborhood of Talbissah during the night from one o’clock until three in the morning.” They said that four civilians including a child died and more were injured.

Three victims were named by the Violations Documentation Center.

Damascus Human Rights Center named one additional victim of a Russian strike.

United Office of Rastan said that the child Malak Abudl Qadir (Taqtaq) was “found beside her house. She was killed as a result of Russian warplanes targeting her house, bringing the total number of martyrs to four as a result of intensive Russian raids.”

According to Syrian Press Center, Russia carried out more than 20 raids – including use of cluster bombs – targeting civilian homes – which killed three civilians and injured dozens more.

The voice over in a video published by the Shaam News Network says “cluster bombs are exploding in the Homs countryside from Russian airstrikes.”

However, one source, Smart blamed the regime, saying that they shelled Talbiseh “with artillery from their villages of Najmeh and Musharrafah.“

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Khattab al-Gafri
Age unknown male Listed by Violations Documentation Center killed
Munther Abdulqader “Taqtaq”
Adult male Listed by Violations Documentation Center killed
Malak Abdulqader “Taqtaq”
Child female Listed by Violations Documentation Center killed
Abdullah Munir Alloush
Age unknown male Listed by Damascus Human Rights Center killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • Footage showing strikes on Talbiseh, Feb 5th.

  • This media contains graphic content. Click to unblur.

    Image of one of the alleged victims (via Syrianpc)

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

From February 4th – February 11th, Russia reported: “In the course of the last week, February 4-11, aircraft of the Russian aviation group in the Syrian Arab Republic have performed 510 combat sorties engaging 1,888 terrorists’ objects in the provinces of Aleppo, Latakia, Hama, Deir ez-Zor, Daraa, Homs, Hasakah and Raqqah.” It added: “During air duty mission, Su-25 attack aircraft detected 3 hardware columns transporting militants, armament and munitions along the highway Al-Qaryatayn – Homs. The strike resulted in elimination of 9 heavy trucks with munitions and more than 40 militants.“

Syrian Regime Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Syrian Regime
  • Syrian Regime position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4
  • (1 child3 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    12
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    Russian Military, Syrian Regime

Sources (12) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1276

Incident date

July 26, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Between 29 and 36 civilians died in air and artillery strikes in Raqqa over the previous 24 hours, according to local sources. Most reports blamed the Coalition – though one also said that Russia had carried out strikes in the city. It should be noted that the numbers given in these reports are general numbers for the city.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported that 29 civilians had died in Coalition airstrikes across Raqqa neighbourhoods over the past 24 hours.

The Shaam News Network, put the figure higher, reporting on July 27th: “Yesterday, 36 civilians were killed and more than 50 wounded by air and artillery shelling of the Syrian Democratic Forces and the International Coalition for the city of Raqqa. Yesterday, 18 civilians were martyred in a similar attack on the city’s neighborhoods.” Q_Alenzy and Al Jazeera also reported these figures, as did Orient News, who cited the IS media agency A’amaq.

Watan.fm also reported that Russia had carried out strikes, saying on July 27th: “The US-led International Air Force aircraft and the Russian air force carried out two horrific massacres in the city of al-Raqqa, ISIS’s stronghold in Syria. Both sides killed dozens of civilians and injured others.”

In the third of their September 2020 civilian casualty reports, the US-led Coalition assessed reports that they were responsible for civilian harm in this strike as “non-credible”, stating that the allegation provided insufficient information on the timing and location of the strike to make a determination.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    29 – 36
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (2) [ collapse]

  • A child injured in an alleged Coalition and Russian airstrike on Raqqa, 26th July 2017. (via Dm42007)
  • A news bulletin reporting on the alleged Coalition and Russian airstrike on Raqqa, 26th July 2017. (via France24)

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SEV008784
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Sep 14, 2020

  • Jul. 26, 2017, in Raqqah, Syria, via Airwars report. This report contains insufficient information on time, location, or details to assess its credibility. 3130/CS1276 37SEV008784

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 26th-27th: “Near Raqqah, 12 strikes engaged eight ISIS tactical units and destroyed five vehicles, four fighting positions, three supply caches, a command and control node and an ISIS communications facility.” It additionally reported that “On July 26, near Raqqah, Syria, 18 strikes engaged 12 ISIS tactical units; destroyed eight fighting positions, two command and control nodes, an IED facility, a supply cache, and a logistics node; and suppressed an ISIS tactical unit.” And that “On July 26, near Raqqah, Syria, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and suppressed eight fighting positions.”

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

In the last week (20th-27th) France reports carrying out two strikes in Raqqah, destroying two ISIL combat positions. Task Force (TF) Wagram carried out 21 artillery strikes in Mosul. The overall record of air activity since September 19th 2014 amounts to 1,324 strikes, 2,092 targets destroyed and 6,857 sorties.

‘OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, Dans la ville de Raqqah, Daech continue de perdre du terrain, jour après jour, face aux Forces Démocratiques Syriennes. Les combattants terroristes continuent néanmoins de disposer de solides positions défensives dans le cœur de la ville, à partir desquelles ils mènent des contre-attaques régulières et des actions de harcèlement. En Irak, Les forces de sécurités irakiennes poursuivent leurs opérations de sécurisation de la ville de Mossoul, face à des équipes isolées de combattants qui continuent de mener des actions symboliques de harcèlement. Dans le même temps, Daech consolide ses positions autour de Tal Afar, pour tenter de résister à l’offensive prochaine de la Coalition pour libérer aussi cette ville. Daech poursuit par ailleurs ses actions de diversion et de harcèlement, en se concentrant dans les régions de l’Anbar et d’Hawijah. Certaines actions ont également été menées cette semaine dans l’Ouest de l’Irak, dans la région de Rutbah. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Cette semaine, les aéronefs ont réalisé 45 sorties aériennes dont 31 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 04 missions de recueil de renseignement et 06 de ravitaillement en vol. Un C135-FR récemment déployé a en effet réalisé de nombreuses missions en quelques jours à peine, soutenant ainsi, à son niveau, la bascule des efforts de la Coalition vers les autres bastions de Daech. Deux frappes ont été menées dans le cadre de la bataille de Raqqah, détruisant deux positions de combattants ennemies, au contact des troupes alliées engagées. De ces positions, des tireurs de Daech tenaient sous leur feu les soldats alliés à une centaine de mètres à peine. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a réalisé 21 missions de tir dont 07 de harcèlement et 14 d’éclairement. Ces missions interdisent une offensive de contre des terroristes vers Mossoul. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 324 frappes, 2 092 objectifs détruits et 6 857 sorties. Le bilan global de l’activité artillerie atteint 1 331 missions.

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

Wednesday 26 July – a Reaper destroyed a terrorist truck in eastern Syria..A Royal Air Force Reaper flew an armed reconnaissance mission over eastern Syria on Wednesday 26 July. A group of armed terrorists were observed boarding a truck, and the Reaper’s crew tracked the vehicle as it headed west along a desert road, some 20 miles south-south-east of Hasakah, before engaging with a Hellfire missile once it was in an isolated location. The missile scored a direct hit which destroyed the truck.

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    29 – 36
  • Civilians reported injured
    50
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Contested
    Competing claims of responsibility e.g. multiple belligerents, or casualties also attributed to ground forces.
  • Suspected attackers
    US-led Coalition, Russian Military

Sources (11) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS340

Incident date

January 2, 2016

Location

بيانون, Bayanoun, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.34015, 37.05217 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Village level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two civilians were reported killed – one possibly a child – in an alleged Russian airstrike or artillery attack on the town of Bayanoun.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Nidal Ahmad Amaya
12 or 21 years old male named by the Syria News App killed
Taghrid Hussein Amaya
40 years old male named by the Syria News App killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Aleppo governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (1–2 men)
  • Civilians reported injured
    5
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (20) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1303

Incident date

July 31, 2017

Location

الرقة‎, Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently reported the death “of the children of ‘Khaled al-Issa‘ by the bombing of the international coalition aircraft on the city of Al-Raqqa.”

No further details are currently available.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Family members (2)

Child of‘Khaled al-Issa 1
Child killed
Child of‘Khaled al-Issa 2
Child killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For July 31st – August 1st: “Near Raqqah, 16 strikes engaged 11 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 14 fighting positions, a tactical vehicle, a mortar system and a VBIED facility.” It additionally reported that “On July 31, near Raqqah, Syria, two strikes engaged two ISIS tactical units.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Monday 31 July – Typhoons attacked a Daesh defensive position and two sniper teams in Raqqa…Royal Air Force Tornado, Typhoon and Reaper aircraft have continued to fly daily armed reconnaissance missions against Daesh over Syria and Iraq, and have delivered a number of air strikes against terrorist targets in Raqqa. On Monday 31 July, two flights of Typhoons, based at RAF Akrotiri, delivered successful attacks with Paveway IV guided bombs against a defensive position from which Daesh were firing on the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and against two sniper teams.’

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Weak
    Single source claim, though sometimes featuring significant information.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (1) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS355

Incident date

January 9, 2016

Location

سراقب, Saraqib, Idlib, Syria

Geolocation

35.864249, 36.804977 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

One civilian was killed and several others injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Saraqib, according to the Shaam News Network.

 

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Abdullah Maher Hmateesh
Child male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Russian Military Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Russian Military
  • Russian Military position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Russian Military
Official source

In its report for military actions on January 11 2016, the Kremlin reports carrying out strikes in Idlib governorate: “In the course of 10 days of the year 2016, the Russian aircraft have performed 311 combat sorties engaging 1097 objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Damascus, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Daraa, and Raqqah provinces.“

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    1
  • (1 child)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2–6
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Russian Military

Sources (4) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1331

Incident date

August 4, 2017

Location

ﻗﺮﻳﺔ ﺍﻟﺤﻤﺎﺩﻱ , Al Hammadi, Al Hasakah, Syria

Geolocation

35.99523, 41.138306 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Neighbourhood/area level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Two named children died in an alleged Coalition airstrike on a school in the village of al Hammadi in the al Shadadi countryside, according to local media.

Multiple sources reported that the Haddaj Sharqi school was struck by the Coalition, killing two children.

The incident was first reported on August 4, 2017 at 4:57 pm by مرصد الحسكة @AlhasakaArabea on Facebook.

The victims were named as:

Khaled Mohammed Al-Aziz
4 years old male killed
Asmaa Ismail Aziz
15 years old female killed

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention Haddaj Sharqi (East) school (ﻣﺪﺭﺳﺔﻫﺪﺍﺝﺷﺮﻗﻲ), al Hammadi village (ﻗﺮﻳﺔﺍﻟﺤﻤﺎﺩﻱ ) in al Shadadi (ﺍﻟﺸﺪﺍﺩﻱ ) countryside near the Iraqi border, Al-Hasakah governorate. Due to limited satellite imagery and information available to Airwars, we were unable to verify the coordinates of either al Hammadi village (ﻗﺮﻳﺔﺍﻟﺤﻤﺎﺩﻱ) or the school. There are three buildings labeled as schools on Wikimapia east of Haddaj village and near the Iraq/Syria border, but it is unclear if any of these are the school that was reported to have been targeted. The coordinates for these three schools are: 36.017222, 41.207778; 35.977500, 41.247222; and 35.961667, 41.203889. We did locate al Shadadi town (ﺍﻟﺸﺪﺍﺩﻱ ), for which the coordinates are: 36.052222, 40.728889, and Haddaj village (حداج), for which the coordinates are: 36.035833, 41.056389.

  • Three possible locations for the school east of the village of Haddaj (حداج) and near the Iraq/Syria border

    Imagery:
    © 2019 Google

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    No Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Al Hammadi, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SFV927855
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • May 31, 2018

  • After a review of available information it was assessed that no Coalition strikes were conducted in the geographical area that correspond to the report of civilian casualties.

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

“On Aug. 4, near Al Shadaddi, one strike engaged an ISIS tactical unit and destroyed a command and control node.”

Media
from belligerent (1) [ collapse]

  • For August 3rd-9th, France report 1 strike in Iraq and 1 in Syria, along with 9 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

Summary

  • Civilian infrastructure
    School
  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    2
  • (2 children)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (9) [ collapse]

Incident Code

RS200

Incident date

November 27, 2015

Location

أعزاز‎, A`zaz, Aleppo, Syria

Geolocation

36.586002, 37.034333 Note: The accuracy of this location is to Exact location (via Airwars) level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Up to five civilians, including one to two children, were reported killed and six injured in an alleged Russian airstrike on Azaz, according to multiple sources.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights reported that three non-combatants, including one child, died when Russian warplanes launched several rockets targeting the road leading to the border crossing point with Turkey. A pro-regime tweet instead claimed that “Russian warplanes raids target a convoy coming from Turkey to support the terrorists of al Nusra Front via Izaz in the northern Aleppo countryside.”

The White Helmets put the death toll at five and said the victims were from the same family and included two children. However, in their Facebook post, they stated that the area was attacked by “warplanes“, not specifying any nationality.

The VDC named the two victims and another man as an unidentified.

The Syrian Network for Human Rights listed one additional victim by name.

Halab News named Mohammad Hussein Barhawi, who it said was an FSA fighter.

 

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Mohammad Barho
Child male named by VDC killed
Sumayah Mohammad Meghnej
Child female named by VDC (15 years) killed
Abdul Hakeem Abdo
Adult male named by NS4RH killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (7) [ collapse]

  • 'Russian enemy planes bomb Izaz on the Syrian Turkish border' (via Mohammad Abduallah Sleiman tweet)
  • Burning trucks in the aftermath of an alleged Russian airstrike on Izaz, November 27th (via White Helmets)
  • Footage of the moment an alleged Russian airstrike hit Azaz, Nov 27th (via north press)
  • The martyr of Jamila Abu Hussein Al - Ghabash was martyred by the Russian bombing on the city of Aazaz (via Jasimine tweet)
  • Mohammad Barho (via VDC)
  • a Syrian girl her head destroyed as a result of the Russian bombing on the border areas in the town of Izaz (via Shareef Sarmada tweet)
  • A picture of Russian warplanes raids target a convoy coming from Turkey to support the terrorists of al Nusra Front (via Izaz in the northern Aleppo countryside)

Geolocation notes (5) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention an airstrike targeting several vehicles in western A’zaz (أعزاز‎). After investigating audio-visual material from sources, we narrowed this location to a highway west of the city, for which the exact coordinates are: 36.586002, 37.034333.

  • The vehicles were struck next to the electricity pylon seen here.

    Imagery:
    Aleppo White Helmets

  • A victim is removed from the scene of the airstrike, also showing a dirt road and two buildings.

    Imagery:
    North Press

  • Witness video shows the road on which the vehicles were targeted. Note that feature D refers to the small road that turns onto the main highway.

    Imagery:
    North Press

  • Overhead imagery shows the features marked in the media from witnesses.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

  • Satellite imagery showing the exact location of the airstrike.

    Imagery:
    Google Earth

Unknown Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    Unknown
  • Unknown position on incident
    Not yet assessed

Original strike reports

Unknown
Official source

Russia reported that “In the course of the last week, November 26 – December 4, the Russian aircraft have performed 431 combat sorties from the Hmeymim airbase making pinpoint strikes on 1458 terrorist objects in the Aleppo, Idlib, Latakia, Hama, Homs, Deir ez-Zor and Raqqah provinces.”

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    4 – 5
  • (1–2 children2 men)
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    Unknown

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Incident Code

CS1361

Incident date

August 9, 2017

Location

Ar Raqqah, Syria

Geolocation

35.9505639, 39.0094148 Note: The accuracy of this location is to City level. Continue to map

Airwars assessment

Orient news and Smart news reported the death of as many as ten civilians and wounding of others in alleged Coalition airstrikes on Raqqa’s Tawasu’iya, Fardous, and Bedo neighbourhoods. Amnesty has since conducted field research in Raqqa and we understand that this figure might possibly be lower than first reported. 

There was, however, uncertainty over the date of Zakaria Khalid Al Bakhit Fathallah’s death. On August 11th, Usama Al Talep, reported that he was killed “yesterday”, while Media Center – Palmyra, again reporting on August 11th, said he died “a few days ago”. Some other sources reported his death on August 13th but did not say when he died. Reports added that the victim was displaced from Palmyra.

Baladi added that Haj Mahmoud Abdullatif Al-Humaidi and Khansa’ al-Qantar (a woman) were killed in “artillery shelling on Al Badaoui lane in the city of Raqqa” – however, it has since been identified through extensive field research by Amnesty International, that Khansa’ al-Qantar was killed on the 12th of August.

Since Amnesty International conducted extensive field research, it was identified by a relative “Mohammed”, that Khansa’ al-Qantar was killed on the 12th of August.

According to the Amnesty and Airwars’s joint April 2019 report War in Raqqa: Rhetoric versus Reality, “A 40-year-old woman, Khansa’ al-Qantar, was killed in the garden of her home by shrapnel from an artillery shell which struck the street outside her house.”

A relative gave a testimonial to an on the ground Amnesty researcher. He said,”Look at the holes which the artillery shrapnel made in the metal gate. You can imagine such what shrapnel does to the human body. It kills.”

In addition to this, it has been identified by Airwars and Amnesty that Zakaria Hmeidi was not killed in this strike but in a separate incident not previously created by Airwars. The victim has been removed from the dataset.

The local time of the incident is unknown.

The victims were named as:

Walid Awad Al-Qous
Age unknown male killed
Limar Awad Al-Qous
Child female killed
Haj Mahmoud Abdullatif Al-Humaidi
Adult male killed
Muhammad Nur Suwayha
Age unknown male killed

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (18) [ collapse]

Media
from sources (1) [ collapse]

  • Zakaria Khaled al-Bakhit al-Fath Allah, killed in an alleged Coalition air or artillery strike on Raqqa (via RBSS).

Geolocation notes (1) [ collapse]

Reports of the incident mention several neighbourhoods in the North West of Raqqa: Tawassoui’ya, Al Ferdos, and Al Badou. The generic coordinates for this area are: 35.9599103, 38.997345.

  • Neighbourhoods of Tawassoui'ya, Al Ferdos, and Al Badou in North West Raqqa

    Imagery:
    © 2018 Google

CJTF–OIR Declassified Assessment and Press Release

Attached to this civilian harm incident is a provisional reconciliation of the Pentagon's declassified assessment of this civilian harm allegation, based on matching date and locational information.

The declassified documents were obtained by Azmat Khan and the New York Times through Freedom of Information requests and lawsuits filed since March 2017, and are included alongside the corresponding press release published by the Pentagon. Airwars is currently analysing the contents of each file, and will update our own assessments accordingly.

Declassified Assessment Press Release

US-led Coalition Assessment:

  • Suspected belligerent
    US-led Coalition
  • US-led Coalition position on incident
    Non credible / Unsubstantiated
    Insufficient information to assess that, more likely than not, a Coalition strike resulted in civilian casualties.
  • Reason for non-credible assessment
    Insufficient information on the time and location
  • Civilian deaths conceded
    None
  • Civilian injuries conceded
    None
  • Stated location
    near Raqqah, Syria
    Nearest population center
  • Location accuracy
    100 m
  • MGRS coordinate
    37SDV997795
    Military Grid Reference System

Civilian casualty statements

US-led Coalition
  • Jun 28, 2018

  • The report contains insufficient information of the time, location and details to assess its credibility

Original strike reports

US-led Coalition
Official source

For August 8th-9th the Coalition reported “Near Raqqah, 22 strikes engaged 15 ISIS tactical units and destroyed 20 fighting positions, an IED, ISIS engineering equipment, a logistics node, and a command and control node.”

UK Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

‘Wednesday 9 August – Typhoons demolished a Daesh-held building in Raqqa…A Typhoon flight saw action over Raqqa on Wednesday 9 August; the Syrian Democratic Forces reported coming under fire from a large building against which our aircraft conducted a successful attack using two Paveway IV guided bombs.’

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

For August 3rd-9th, France report 1 strike in Iraq and 1 in Syria, along with 9 artillery strikes in Mosul. (via EtatMajorFR)

French Military
  • English
    /
    Original
Official source

France reports that in the past week (4th -11th) it carried out 31 sorties, including 24 Army reconnaissance and Ground Support (CAS), as well as 4 intelligence reports by Atlantic 2 or Rafale patrol. Two strikes were carried out in the Hassaka region of Syria and the Al Qaim region of Iraq. They destroyed ISIL storage sites and weapons caches.

‘Point de situation des opérations ARMÉE FRANÇAISE – OPÉRATIONS MILITAIRES·FRIDAY, 11 AUGUST 2017 OPÉRATION CHAMMAL SITUATION En Syrie, A Raqqah, la progression des forces démocratiques syriennes se poursuit. Au sud de la ville, la manœuvre de tenaille amorcée, qui permettra de joindre les fronts est et ouest, demeure freinée par la résistance de Daech. Les combattants du groupe terroriste utilisent les réseaux de tunnels et les véhicules suicide chargés d’explosifs pour conduire des actions de harcèlement, et piègent systématiquement le terrain cédé. En Irak, Les forces de sécurité irakiennes poursuivent le nettoyage et la dépollution de la ville de Mossoul. Dans le reste du territoire, alors que Daech tente de poursuivre ses actions de harcèlement, les opérations de sécurisation mobilisent largement les forces irakiennes. Dans la vallée de l’Anbar et dans la région d’Hawijah, les opérations ont permis de déceler et de détruire des caches de munitions et de nombreux engins explosifs improvisés. ACTIVITÉS DE LA FORCE Le 3 août s’est achevée une séquence de relève des avions de Chammal. Celle-ci a signé la fin du premier déploiement du plot mixte Rafale marine et air. Ce sont désormais 6 avions Rafale de l’armée de l’air qui constituent le volet chasse présent en Jordanie. Cette semaine, sur le théâtre, les aéronefs ont réalisé 31 sorties aériennes dont 24 de reconnaissance armée et d’appui au sol (CAS), ainsi que 4 sorties de recueil de renseignement par Atlantique 2 ou patrouille de Rafale. Deux frappes ont été conduites dans la région de Hassaka en Syrie et dans la région d’Al Qaim. Elles ont permis de détruire des sites de stockage et des caches d’armes. La Task Force (TF) Wagram a mené de son côté 6 missions de tir de harcèlement en appui de la 15e division à l’ouest de Mossoul vers Tal Afar, pour prévenir les infiltrations ennemies sur les positions irakiennes. Le bilan global de l’activité aérienne depuis le 19 septembre 2014 s’élève à 1 322 frappes, 2095 objectifs détruits et 6919 sorties.

Summary

  • Civilian harm reported
    Yes
  • Civilians reported killed
    6 – 8
  • (1 child1 man)
  • Civilians reported injured
    2
  • Airwars civilian harm grading
    Fair
    Reported by two or more credible sources, with likely or confirmed near actions by a belligerent.
  • Suspected attacker
    US-led Coalition

Sources (18) [ collapse]